November 14, 2005
ESPN Rage
The people who write blurbs for web sites are often not the site’s best and brightest. (Present company excepted.)
Can anyone stop USC’s All-Star lineup on offense? Obviously, Cal couldn’t. The Trojans are piling up yards — and records — at a historic pace, Brad Edwards writes. Story
Now, I know that USC thumped Cal. I was there, for pete’s sake. But let’s get this clear: Cal’s defense played remarkably well against USC. Were it not for the six turnovers by the offense, more people would have noticed that.
As it is, what offensive milestones did USC reach versus Cal? Cumulative milestones - LenDale White was held under 100 yards rushing, but he passed 1,000 for the year. Reggie Bush was held to about 85 all-purpose yards, well under his average, but he did increase his total by 85! Matt Leinart passed for 246 yards, taking him over 3,000! Gigantor — er, Dwayne Jarrett — had 69 receiving yards to take him over 1,000.
Bully for USC. But let’s not lay this on Cal as if the USC offense had its career day against the Bears. Because I can assure you they did not.
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Comments
In fact, it was USC's second-lowest point total this season. They scored 34 in the Notre Dame game.
Even a die-hard USC fan couldn't help but sing the praises of Cal's defense:
http://boifromtroy.com/?p=4830
BTW, Leinart thinks Levy should start:
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/11/14/levyfolo.htm
Yup, the Cal defense played very well. The post from boifromtroy.com said it pretty well. If Cal had been able to hold on to the ball, I bet USC's score would have been in the mid 20's. That's an impressive feat.
Yup, the defensive play was the best thing to take away from the game.
I think the attack on Cal's defense is just one more of the "nobody but USC plays defense in the PAC 10" script that national sports writers had some kid in a garage write for them. It goes on constantly, and it's getting really old. Considering that no one but USC is on national televsion more than a couple of times a year, how exactly do they know? Of course, the SEC has great defense because of all the low-scoring games in that conference, right? Or maybe the offenses just suck. Numbers don't always tell the whole story. I didn't watch the game (I was at the Arizona-Washington game watching the Cats getting run over by believing their own press and Tuitama finally playing like a freshman), so I have no comment on Cal's defensive effort, but from past experience...
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